Next Up For Duke: Arizona

21.11.2024 17:00

DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 10: Caleb Foster #1 of the Duke Blue Devils drives to the basket against Keshad Johnson #16 of the Arizona Wildcats during the game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on November 10, 2023 in Durham, North Carolina. Arizona won 78-73. | Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images

And a rematch with former Tar Heel Caleb Love

Date 11/22 || Time 10:30 || Venue McKale Center || Video ESPN2

Next up for Duke is a trip to Arizona’s McKale Center to take on the Wildcats.

Duke and Arizona have an interesting history. The Blue Devils won the biggest matchup, the 2001 for the national championship, but Arizona is up 6-4 in the series, including last year’s win in Cameron.

The Wildcats have a deep rotation with nine players getting at least 13.3 minutes and no one getting more than 26.

The main rotation guys:

Jayden Bradley (6-3 junior)
Trey Townsend (6-6 senior)
Caleb Love (6-4 senior)
KJ Lewis (6-4 sophomore)
Tobe Ayaka (6-8/250 junior)
Anthony Dell’Orso (6-6)
Henri Veesar (7-0 sophomore)
Carter Bryant (6-8 freshman)
Motiejus Krivas (7-2/260 sophomore)

Of all these, Love is obviously the most familiar to Duke players. His time at UNC didn't end well, but he cost Duke dearly in the Final Four and of course last year in Cameron.

Love has had a nice second act in Tucson. He’s currently averaging 11 ppg, 3 boards and 3 assists. He’s shooting just 35.1 percent overall though and 26.3 percent on threes.

Awaka, a transfer from Tennessee, is one of the best rebounders in the country so far with 12.3 per game. Interestingly, despite being primarily an inside player, he’s shooting just 57.1 percent. Like fellow starter Townsend, he hasn’t attempted a three so far this season.

Townsend, a transfer from Bradley, is shooting 55 percent.

Arizona brings two bigs off the bench which surprises us a bit but whatever works: Veesar and Krivas are both quite tall at 7-0 and 7-2 respectively.

Veesar is from Estonia and Krivas is from Lithunia. Lloyd made his bones recruiting internationally for Mark Few when he was at Gonzaga so it’s no surprise that he got those two and also Dell’Orso out of Australia.

So what do we know about this Arizona team collectively?

Well, Lloyd, true to his Gonzaga roots, usually recruits shooting. It hasn’t worked out to well so far, but that could change.

There was a lot of fuss about Wisconsin scoring 103 points last time out, but a couple of points there. First, John Tonje scored 41 of those points personally. However, while he certainly shot well, 21 of those points came at the free throw line (Tonje hit 21-22 from the free throw line).

This game was a foul-fest with the Badgers whistled for 32 and the Wildcats 31. Wisconsin shot 41-47 from the line while UA hit 28-40. That translates to 87.2 percent for Wisconsin to 70 percent for the Wildcats. You really want to know who the refs were, don’t you?

Arizona’s starters had heavy foul trouble with Awaka and Love fouling out and Townsend and Lewis picking up four each. Carter Bryant had four off the bench.

Wisconsin also hit 12-27 from the bonusphere compared to 4-23 for the Wildcats.

So what to make of this game?

Well, Duke will need to stay out of foul trouble, but with Lloyd’s team not shooting well, if Khaman Maluach, Cooper Flagg and Maliq Brown can control the lane, Duke has a good shot of coming away with the victory.

Duke’s size overall will be a factor too.

And don’t overlook this: while Wisconsin scored a highly uncharacteristic 103 against Arizona, that game was in Madison, and in their games so far, Arizona has scored 93, 102 and 88 points, averaging 94.3 ppg.

And keep this in mind too: Duke should be able to defend Love with Tyrese Proctor, Caleb Foster, Sion James and Cooper Flagg - or really anyone else who gets hot - well, defense could be the deciding factor.

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